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Ask HN: Freelancers in the US: What do you do for health insurance?

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Re: Ask HN: Freelancers in the US: What do you do for health insurance?

#31

Post by codegeek »

zrail wrote: post #15
codegeek wrote: post #8

I did exactly this as a freelancer even though not anymore. It will cost you more out of pocket to buy insurance compared to a "group" plan through an employer. My first suggestion: Keep the health insurance through your wife if you can and if she is still working. It is hard to beat the plans sponsored by employers as they get subsidized group rates to offer to employees. But if you absolutely need to buy your own,…

> The only advantage of obamacare is that if you cannot buy insurance yourself that easily with things like pre-existing conditions etc. Medical underwriting is no longer a thing industry-wide and hasn't been since the beginning of 2014. No matter where you buy your plan, they will not ask about pre-existing conditions. It's true that the only reason why you'd actually buy through an exchange is to get the subsidies,…

you are right. I edited that part. I did this a couple of years ago so a lot has changed since then.

Re: Ask HN: Freelancers in the US: What do you do for health insurance?

#33

Post by eropple »

dragons wrote: post #16

I'm in the Boston area, YMMV. I left my job in 2011. I did a few months of COBRA, which I found unreasonably expensive. I'm currently paying about $380/month on a BCBS individual plan with a $6K deductible (costs have risen about $5-$10/mo per year since I joined). I don't think my experience will help you much (single), but I'm putting this out there for others who might be interested. BTW I have never met the deduc…

$380/month sounds kind of high. I have similar coverage via MassHealth for $225/month (+$25 for dental). YMMV, of course.

Re: Ask HN: Freelancers in the US: What do you do for health insurance?

#34

Post by gwbas1c »

Beached wrote: post #17

I just had to purchase health insurance two week ago in the state of MI(Just turned 26). I had 3 options: 1. Obama Care - I qualified for a $16 subsidy... 2. Individual plan from a health care provider in state 3. Health Share plan (think Credit union for health care) Obama care cost 2x as much as an individual plan, and almost 3x as much as a health share plan, so even after the subsidy, this was not an option. Heal…

The cost went up because of the pre-existing condition situation. Pre Obama Care, if you had any kind of pre-existing condition, you wouldn't be able to buy the $84 coverage.

(I got stuck having to get a normal job because of a pre-existing condition.)

Re: Ask HN: Freelancers in the US: What do you do for health insurance?

#35

Post by Beached »

artlogic wrote: post #27
Beached wrote: post #17

I just had to purchase health insurance two week ago in the state of MI(Just turned 26). I had 3 options: 1. Obama Care - I qualified for a $16 subsidy... 2. Individual plan from a health care provider in state 3. Health Share plan (think Credit union for health care) Obama care cost 2x as much as an individual plan, and almost 3x as much as a health share plan, so even after the subsidy, this was not an option. Heal…

I'm also in Michigan and curious about the specifics of options 2 and 3. Would you be willing to share the details?

Certainly, 2. The individual plan is from Priority health, it is their individual High deductible HMO HSA plan with a annual deductible of $6300. The entire spectrum health network is covered in the plan, (Spectrum health pretty much owns all of west MI and the Grand Rapids area).

3. http://www.healthshareplan.org/ When I contacted them, they only paid out to UoM and Mercy Health networks, not spectrum health. Since I live in Spectrum health land, this wouldnt work well for me. however if you live in East MI, you may consider this.

Re: Ask HN: Freelancers in the US: What do you do for health insurance?

#36

Post by hackuser »

Beached wrote: post #17

I just had to purchase health insurance two week ago in the state of MI(Just turned 26). I had 3 options: 1. Obama Care - I qualified for a $16 subsidy... 2. Individual plan from a health care provider in state 3. Health Share plan (think Credit union for health care) Obama care cost 2x as much as an individual plan, and almost 3x as much as a health share plan, so even after the subsidy, this was not an option. Heal…

> Obama care cost 2x as much as an individual plan

What is an Obamacare plan? I thought the ACA created a marketplace that listed plans from insurers, and set minimums for coverage (that would apply to options #2 and #3). I haven't had to deal with it so I don't know.

> this same exact coverage would have only cost me $84/m before 2014 when Obama care went into play

How else has the ACA affected your insurance? For example, I think it allows you to stay on your parents plan until now (i.e., through age 25), guarantees you won't be turned down, eliminates caps on coverage, etc.

EDIT: Remove something that I think was overly provacative, (even if not meant that way).

Re: Ask HN: Freelancers in the US: What do you do for health insurance?

#37

Post by bmj »

It's been awhile since I've looked into it, but my local tech council (http://pghtech.org) offers a coverage group to provide health insurance options to member organizations. I knew a few folks that have leveraged this in the past, but I'm not sure how rates have changed due to the ACA.

It may be worth seeing if such a program exists in NYC, and if it would be worth the membership costs.

Re: Ask HN: Freelancers in the US: What do you do for health insurance?

#38

Post by Beached »

gwbas1c wrote: post #34
Beached wrote: post #17

I just had to purchase health insurance two week ago in the state of MI(Just turned 26). I had 3 options: 1. Obama Care - I qualified for a $16 subsidy... 2. Individual plan from a health care provider in state 3. Health Share plan (think Credit union for health care) Obama care cost 2x as much as an individual plan, and almost 3x as much as a health share plan, so even after the subsidy, this was not an option. Heal…

The cost went up because of the pre-existing condition situation. Pre Obama Care, if you had any kind of pre-existing condition, you wouldn't be able to buy the $84 coverage. (I got stuck having to get a normal job because of a pre-existing condition.)

Yes, Since I do not have any pre-existing condition, and have never smoked, that $84 would have been mine. Because no insurer can decline someone, my cost went up to make insurance for people with per-existing conditions more affordable.

Re: Ask HN: Freelancers in the US: What do you do for health insurance?

#39

Post by maxerickson »

shiro wrote: post #30

I became a freelance 13 years ago. On COBRA for a while. Looked for IEEE group insurance but HI wasn't covered then. The insurance company (HMSA) offered a switch to individual plan. It wasn't too bad initially ($350/mo for me and my wife, HMO, $500/$1000 ded.) But then the premium soared and also we had a kid; at peak it was $1050/mo without drug, vision and dental. I learned antibiotics are pretty expensive. After…

It's non generic prescription drugs that are expensive. See for example the generic antibiotics available for $4:

http://www.target.com/pharmacy/generics-condition

http://www.walmart.com/cp/4-Prescriptions/1078664

(you have to click around more to get the list on Walmart)

Re: Ask HN: Freelancers in the US: What do you do for health insurance?

#40

Post by dimino »

Beached wrote: post #38
gwbas1c wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The cost went up because of the pre-existing condition situation. Pre Obama Care, if you had any kind of pre-existing condition, you wouldn't be able to buy the $84 coverage. (I got stuck having to get a normal job because of a pre-existing condition.)

Yes, Since I do not have any pre-existing condition, and have never smoked, that $84 would have been mine. Because no insurer can decline someone, my cost went up to make insurance for people with per-existing conditions more affordable.

I'm quite sure they appreciate it, thanks. :D
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